FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL – LI            10/8/98

The National Football League and its players have taken an active role in promoting literacy.

Several players are giving their time to the cause and some have established foundations dedicated to the cause of reading improvement among young people.

Chicago Bears defensive tackle JIM FLANIGAN, for example, has created the Flanigan Foundation to assist child literacy groups. This past offseason, it launched the first "Great American Book Drive" in which a caravan filled with books traveled to six cities, setting up reading programs and donating books. The caravan traveled to Chicago; South Bend, Indiana; Detroit; Pittsburgh; Charleston, West Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

"The original idea was to have a national book exchange where kids from different cities could exchange book reports and cultivate the idea that books we read link us together as people in distant places and even in different times," Flanigan said. "It ended up being a fantastic journey. We touched over 5,000 kids and gathered a tremendous amount of support and enthusiasm from the people who participated."

"Mission 99," another program Flanigan created donates books to needy children. During the season, Flanigan donates 99 (his uniform number) books each week to schools, children’s hospitals, and various children’s reading programs in several cities. His foundation also has established a college scholarship, and has provided children with the opportunity to write book reviews for publication in local papers and on his foundation’s web site.

In Tampa, two players are involved in the fight against illiteracy. Buccaneers defensive tackle BRAD CULPEPER works with two local middle schools in the "Accelerator Reader" program, challenging students to read books that target their specific needs. They are tested to demonstrate their knowledge of the books they read. Students reading the most books and with the highest test scores are invited to Buccaneers home games as part of "Culpepper’s Champions" and are given a Culpepper jersey to wear at the game. Brad visits the schools every other week to congratulate winners and encourage them to keep reading.

Tampa Bay wide receiver BERT EMANUEL works with the Family Literacy Center and the "Read to Me" program. Families which have improved their reading skills and increased the amount of time they read to their children are invited to Buccaneers games as guests of "The Bert Zone." Emanuel jerseys are distributed to wear at the games. The Family Literacy Center assists low-income adults. The center provides day care for the adult student’s children and requires them to spend time with their families every day in the center.

In Oakland, Raiders cornerback JAMES TRAPP has established "Trapp’s Corner," a program for fifth-graders. Trapp purchased $10,000 worth of tickets as an incentive for academic improvement. He visits local schools on Tuesdays, his day off, to talk to students. Trapp recently partnered with the United Parcel Service (UPS), which has provided tailgate parties and gift bags at games for children with improved reading. Trapp and UPS will sponsor an award at the end of the school year for the most academically improved student.

Raiders defensive tackle DARRELL RUSSELL is the spokesperson for the team’s reading program called "Oakland Readers." The city program promotes reading by middle school children. Once a month, Russell visits schools to talk to students about the importance of reading.

Packers guard ADAM TIMMERMAN and his wife Jana visit schools in the Green Bay area to speak to students. At a local elementary school, they regularly spend time reading to students. They also have becomed involved in the school’s program that encourages children to become interested in books and their parents to be involved in reading to their children.

NFL teams are also involved in the literacy cause. The Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams have implemented reading programs that encourage students to read.